Body Mass Index (BMI) is a relationship between weight and height that is associated with body fat and health risk.  In June 1998, the federal government announced guidelines which created a new definition of healthy weight, a BMI of 24.9 or less.

BMI of 25 – 29.9 is overweight
BMI of 30 or more is obese
BMI of 35 or more is morbidly obese

Calculate my BMI

Click on the Center for Disease Control’s web site below:
Adults:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/adult_BMI/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.htm

Children 3 to 19:
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx

Possible health risks associated with BMI

A BMI of 25 or above increases the chance of a chronic  disease such as type 2 diabetes
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040415/1971ph.html

General Risk Overview:

http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/obesity-health-risks?page=1

Insulin resistance

http://www.asaging.org/cdc/module7/phase1/phase1_2.cfm

Hypertension

http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm

Cardiovascular disease

http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1156866738167Final%20CDC%20fact%20sheet%20(2-27-06).doc

Some cancers

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_3_1x_Link_Between_Lifestyle_and_CancerMarch03.asp
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/obesity

Gall Bladder Disease

http://www.seekwellness.com/nutrition/gallstones_diet.htm

Osteoarthritis

http://www.hopkins-arthritis.som.jhmi.edu/mngmnt/osteoandweight.html#joint

Sleep Apnea

http://www.medicinenet.com/sleep_apnea/page6.htm

Gout

http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/gout.htm

Other factors that may be important to look at when assessing your risk for chronic disease include:

Diet
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=851

Physical Activity
http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/physicalactivity/

Waist circumference
http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/physicalactivity/lood Pressure

Cholesterol level
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4639

Family history of disease